Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - finance, flat shares, friends old and new and freshers' week to come...

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from thread 8 which filled up in just 72 hours.

[MrKlaw]

Shouldn’t student photo ID be enough on campus and in any pubs in town? You might need a passport to pick that up but hopefully that’s doable on drop off and you can bring it back with you.

Bath only give you a 2hr slot so we’d probably end up driving in early and parking up in town - if time allows we might be able to get some on foot admin done at uni before we need to bring the car in.

[Clankboing]

DrMadeleine thank you, of course it was when we paid the deposit! No wonder I couldn't find it. I will ring to find out and check the terms and conditions with ds. Thanks again.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

You might need a passport to pick that up but hopefully that’s doable on drop off and you can bring it back with you.

They might want to keep their passport with them for travelling or other ID purposes. Dd2 is in Newcastle, and has flown to Bristol (not Cardiff I think) to visit a friend in Wales. If they plan a spontaneous weekend away they might not want to have to pop home for a passport first.

[Madhairday]

We've not heard about accomodation yet so in limbo here. Very helpful thread, thanks whoever gave the tip about Dunelm - will be heading there. DD has chosen catered so shouldn't need too much, though she'll have to fend for herself on weekends.

I'm getting stressed about her lack of organisation now - she's dyspraxic and does find it very difficult. She loses stuff all the time, latest thing she's lost is her passport - hopefully uni will take driving licence/birth certificate as id for her student card.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

When dd1 was going (to catered halls), I had just won a £125 Matalan voucher here on mumsnet, and that covered everything she needed which was great! With dd2 we went to Ikea and giggled at all the other parent-teenager duos

I feel shopping with ds is going to be a bit different, lol, more "why do I need that?" rather than "ooh, can I have this?"

With both the older two, they had some basic insurance built in to their halls rent for their first year, and we didn't get anything else that year. Ds is likely to be taking his desktop computer and a laptop (although nothing else valuable!) and I was wondering whether it would be sensible to get more insurance for him, particularly thinking of any times when he might come home or go elsewhere and leave his desktop in his room. Any thoughts on insurance?

[VioletCharlotte]

Hello, can I join please? My DS is off to the university of Winchester this year to study music. He's been offered accommodation in a shared house owned by the uni. This wasn't one of his choices so he was a bit unsure at first, but after a drive round the area (we live about half an hour away) and talking to friends, he's decided there's some advantages to being in a house. So he's off on 15 September! I'm so proud of him and really excited for him, but it does feel strange. I'm pleased to have found this thread as it's nice to be able to talk others who are going through the same.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Madhair has she been in touch with disability support (or whatever it might be called) at her uni? They usually have a surprising amount of study skills support available.

[Bigearringsbigsmile]

we went shopping for a few bits yesterday, it's amazing how much you realise that they might need! It's certainly going to add up!
The accommodation that we were shown around was all providied with things like a kettle/microwave/toaster etc but the one ds has been allocated doesn't!
I've said he has to try and find his flatmates on the many facebook chats so they can decide who is going to bring what!

Not going to lie, i am so anxious and sad about him going. I am being very upbeat with him and making it a happy , exciting time but deep down i am really struggling.

[justasking111]

On Facebook someone said Dunelm gave 10% student card discount. Does anywhere else do this

[sluj]

Matalan has decent plates and crockery for between £1 and £2 though I always like an excuse to mooch around IKEA or Dunelm.
I need to start a list as I keep remembering things DS1 found useful. I woke up this morning remembering an extension lead (never enough plugs) and one of those over the door hooks for dressing gowns, outdoor coats or towels. So far, I only have 5 IKEA bags from Amazon

[juicy0]

@Bigearringsbigsmile you're not the only one feeling that way. I'm being upbeat and excited for my DD but im dreading the drive home without her

[RaptorInaPorkPieHat]

Whilst it's not much use for the setting up costs, The Co-op give a 10% student discount. www.coop.co.uk/in-store-services/student-discount very handy for DD as she's out on a rural campus and it's the only supermarket near her (although Asda/Tesco do deliver to her halls)

Aldi should be having some student special buys at some point, worth keeping an eye out.

[juicy0]

@AtiaoftheJulii it's worth checking your own contents insurance policy before buying any additional cover. I called our provider and DD's laptop and phone are covered whilst she's at uni as long as she is still resident (on the electoral role) at home. This along with the generic uni provided cover will be enough I think, for us anyway.

[juicy0]

One other thing whilst we are talking about insurance for any DC's lucky enough to have a car. My DD has an old runaround car which isn't driven by anyone else, yes she is very lucky but it's a necessity where we live as there is little to no public transport and her part time job is in the middle of nowhere. I called the insurance company and asked for the the annual mileage to be reduced from 12000 to 4000 as she won't be using it during term time and it reduced the premium by about £75. Every little helps!

[MrKlaw]

Only four weekends to go and we still don’t know accommodation until next week. There are some basic list things we can start to get together but some might depend on which accommodation he gets. Also worrying about whether it’ll fit in the car with space for both parents too or whether it’s a one parent job?

[Witchend]

I hope they won't need passports as dd hasn't got one. Thankfully she does have a driving licence though.
Not sure about a safe. It won't be fixable so if someone did break in it gives them something to grab quickly.
Dd doesn't think the rooms have individual locks, just a lock to the flat, though, so we may need to think of something secure for her.

I've never been to IKEA, by dd assures me it's mandatory for students to go when setting up so I've said I'll take her. The only think I know is they do good meatballs

[calculatorqueen]

I've been a lurker for the last couple of months and just wanted to say how great this thread has been. My son who struggled through primary school and early secondary has got a place at Loughborough Uni for engineering, so we're all really chuffed. Feeling slightly jealous of those with girls kitting out their future accommodation, I think my son's will be very bland, he's showing no interest at all!

[JennyWreny]

MrKlaw we have a small car and I've been thinking about this too, especially with self catered accommodation. Was vaguely thinking that one of us could go there on the train so we can put the back seats down.

[notso]

We're not having to buy much for DD we moved earlier this year and upgraded a lot of household stuff so DD is having our old things. I'm pleased as I feel I can splurge on a fripperies that I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Her godparents came round yesterday with a wastepaper bin filled with white tack, command hooks, labels for her food, extension cords, a stick on black out blind, toilet roll, cards against humanity, a Greggs voucher a sweary tea towel a corkscrew and a bottle of champagne. They also bought a large box of tissues for me, I did have a mini cry!!

[Piggywaspushed]

It has only just crossed my mind that at 18, the Child Trust Fund should have matured. Did others on here receive any notification about this, or is it yet another thing that you are supposed to remember about? That money, after all, was set up as a way of helping young people with the costs associated with education .

[ZandathePanda]

Dd was too old to have had a child trust fund if you mean the Government one.

[Laniakea]

I think our Dd was too old too (November 2000)!

[Piggywaspushed]

Ignore me... CTFs started in 2002. I am thinking of a different family allowance thing...

[Piggywaspushed]

God, I hate financial stuff!!

[ZandathePanda]

‘children born on or after 1 September 2002 were eligible’
It niggles Dd every time her younger siblings statement arrives!